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Nerfs were quadrupeds characterized by their four, curved horns and shaggy coats of fur. The common nerf stood about 1.3 meters at the shoulder. Their mass of hair tangled easily, creating a perfect web for insects and foreign objects to cling to. Thus, they carried around a pungent odor. Nerfs often chewed their cud, creating excessive spittle that further added to their disgusting image. The spit was sticky, black in color, and near-impossible to remove from clothing. Their saliva also had acidic qualities, and could cause burns if it landed on exposed skin.

Male nerfs were generally larger and more aggressive than their female counterparts, with more pronounced horns. They were known to trample the young and batter the females. Because of this, males were kept separated from the rest of the herd.[1]

In the wild, nerfs were common prey for predators such as manka cats and taoparis. They were often hunted by sentient beings such as the Gungans. Nerfs had unusually keen night-vision, helping them to spot nocturnal predators with ease.

Nerfs originated on Alderaan and were raised on farms and in animal nurseries on planets such as Alderaan and Kashyyyk. Because of the nerfs' importance in the galaxy, they were exported from Alderaan and bred to exist on other worlds, specifically in the Core and Inner Rim, thus the nerfs did not go extinct when Alderaan was destroyed in 0 BBY. Nerfs were not commonly found beyond the Mid Rim, since most ranchers chose to breed and raise the less-troublesome bantha. Some planets developed efficient nerf production and monitoring programs, such as the Fennesa Nerf Herding Council.

Herders of the beasts—nerf herders—were well known for being as scruffy-looking and surly as their livestock. They would take the females and young out in the field to graze for weeks at a time, while the males ate harvested grasses back on the ranch. Although nerf herders were looked upon as lesser beings, their role in society was vital. Nerf-hide and fur was treated with chemicals and carded into sheets of wool for use in clothing, foot-wear, and furniture.

Because of the nerf's ability to easily adapt to harsh environments, several defined sub-species existed. Alderaan itself was home to two sub-species of nerf; the common plains nerf, and the leaner forest nerf. A number of nerf breeds were also found on the TunrothTriumvirate worlds.

A Grizmallt nerf.

The Grizmallt nerf was exceedingly rare and could only be found on the planet Grizmallt. They bore a strong resemblance to eopies with antlers. In fact, their lean appearance and clawed distal digits led some xenobiologists to question whether or not the creature was in fact a true nerf.

The Mountain nerf evolved on Fennesa after being brought there by a group of colonists. The colonists allowed the nerfs to wander freely through the mountains, and they soon began hunkering down in caves. This made it difficult to capture them for shearing. Their spit was more acidic than the common nerf, and could cause burns on the skin if not promptly washed off.

The Wildernerf was, like its name suggests, a wild species of nerf native to a number of planets, including Noquivzor.[10]